2012 Assen World Superbike | Results

2012 World Superbike results from Assen, the Netherlands, listed below

As in Friday’s qualifying and Saturday’s superpole sessions, rain storms once again plagued the Netherlands Sunday, creating extremely wet conditions at Assen World Superbike, Round 3 of 14.

But when Sunday’s action was complete, two new riders became winners in 2012. Team Effenbert-Liberty Ducati’s Sylvain Guintoli took race 1, which was his first-ever career victory in World Superbike, and Honda Racing’s Jonathan Rea won race 2.

Assen World Superbike Race 1

The rains were more destructive to rider performance in race 1. The 22-lap event began under clear skies, with pole-sitter Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Rea getting off the line up front.

But the rains began, bringing out the red flag. Under World Superbike rules, another race was declared with the grid places determined for the shortened, nine-lap race by the riders’ finishing order in the first outing that was red flagged.

Due to crashing out of the red-flagged race, Team Effenbert Liberty Ducati’s Brett McCormick was not able to restart. Sykes was also not able to start the race due to engine troubles on the ZX-10R.

During the restart, Rea got the holeshot followed by BMW Motorrad’s Leon Haslam. Both riders began battling, and soon Haslam was up front. But Rea would crash his CBR1000RR, and a few laps later so would Haslam.

This gave the lead to Althea Racing Ducati’s Carlos Checa, who was followed by BMW’s Ayrton Badovini. Behind, Guintoli and Aprilia Racing Team’s Max Biaggi were battling, but Guintoli eventually beat the 2010 World SBK Champ.

Up front, Checa almost crashed, but saved the Althea Ducati 1198. Due to the mistake, the reigning WSBK Champ lost first to Badovini. Guintoli then passed Checa for second, but Badovini then crashed, giving the Frenchman the lead.

Guintoli would finish first, followed 2.6 seconds behind by Checa’s teammate Davide Giugliano, with Checa in third. Biaggi would take fourth, with his teammate Eugene Laverty in fifth.

Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati 1198 Superbike) says: “We’ve been trying to catch that first victory for a while now. Since the start of the season we have showed that we have pace, but the results haven’t come. Finally I did it today. For me it’s a fantastic feeling, this race was crazy with a lot of crashes and I nearly crashed as well. It’s the first race since the accident to Joan and I want also to dedicate this win to him as well.”

Assen World Superbike Race 2

The second race began under wet track conditions, but some riders decided to run racing slicks due to the track drying out. One rider who did this was Rea. Although the Northern Irishman crashed out hard during the restarted race 1, sustaining injury to the ring finger of his throttle hand, he decided to start race 2.

Rea was in so much pain he went to the medical center for a pain-killing shot following the sighting lap. But it was worth it, considering he took the race-2 win in Assen; it was his fourth win in six WSBK races held at Assen, and the first for Honda this season.

When the race began, Team Effenbert-Liberty Ducati’s Jakub Smrz took the early lead, the Czech running on rain tires. But as the race went on, and the track dried more and more, Smrz’s tire faded. He eventually fell back, giving Guintoli the lead. The same happened to Checa, who pitted to switch to normal race slicks. Checa would finish dead last in 17th. As for Smrz, he would suffer a DNF.

Meanwhile, Rea was making his way through the field, and passed Guintoli with two laps to go. Rea opened up a gap, and eventually finished 2.8 seconds ahead of Guintoli.

Taking the final podium position was Aprilia’s Laverty. Finishing fourth and fifth were the BMW Motorrad duo of Marco Melandri and Haslam, respectively. As for Biaggi, he would finish Race 2 in eighth.

Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike CBR1000RR Superbike) says: “It’s a great result for me, my team and bike. A big thanks to all the guys back in Nieuwleusen for their continued hard work. I have to get my finger stitched up right now after my race 1 crash, I’ve been using local anaesthetic for this race, but on a more serious note this win is also just to let Joan Lascorz know that we’re all thinking of you.”

During the race, McCormick suffered a huge crash, and was transferred to the circuit’s medical center. His team reports that he suffered “trauma of the cervical spine, facial trauma with a hematoma to the eye sockets as well as a fracture of the fifth finger of his right hand.”

He was then sent to Assen’s hospital for further evaluation, where it was discovered McCormick had a fracture to his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae. Further updates are expected this week.

With his 4-8 finish, Biaggi moved back into the World Superbike Championship point lead, now having 92 points. But only one point behind is Checa. In third with 79 points is Sykes, with Guintoli and Melandri tied at 66.

The 2012 World Superbike Championship will continue May 4-6 at Monza, Italy, for round four of 14.

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